October 30, 2012|By CHRISTINE DEMPSEY and DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com, The Hartford Courant

MANSFIELD — After the top of a pine tree snapped and fell on Olga Raymond's roof during Hurricane Sandy Monday night, two neighbors and a friend went to help her.

"I'm out of here," Raymond, 90, told them as she stepped out her front door, flashlight in hand.

Raymond only made it a few steps before an even bigger tree uprooted and fell on them. Raymond died and two of the others were injured, one seriously.

Police say they continue to investigate the accident, which happened on West Highland Road. They did not identify the injured Tuesday.

Raymond's son, Douglas, and his wife, Kari, described his mother as an independent woman. Douglas and his sister both asked her if Olga Raymond wanted to stay with them during the hurricane, but she said she would be fine. Her husband, Val, has been in the hospital since a fall.

Olga Raymond was the "quintessential grandmother" who loved her four grandchildren, Kari Raymond said. She recently started bowling again for the social interaction, she said.

Kim Pocius, who lives across the street, said Olga Raymond was "strong, independent and really had pizazz."

Olga Raymond couldn't wait to tell her mail carrier about the new, four-door Dodge Ram truck she and her husband bought, said the postal worker, Gretchen Brown.

Milford officials recovered a body from Long Island Sound Tuesday morning. The Coast Guard identified the body as Brian Bakunas, 34, of Milford, who was reported missing after going swimming in Long Island Sound on Monday.

A kayaker was also reported missing on Sunday in Long Island Sound. He was identified as Jeff Kumweide, 23, of Milford. He is still missing.